UNSAFE PROPERTY -
If you have been injured on another person’s property, you may be entitled to receive compensation from the property owner for injuries, damages, and lost wages incurred. This will depend upon the circumstances of your accident and your ability to prove the property owner’s negligence. Certain actions must be taken immediately after the accident in order to receive payment for your injuries. A knowledgeable Colorado personal injury attorney can determine if you have a valid claim and help you receive full compensation.
The term property owner refers to the person legally responsible for the property and can include the owner, authorized agent, or person in possession of the property. Property owners have a duty to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition, but they are not responsible for everything that happens on their premises.
It is generally the victim’s responsibility to prove an injury resulted from a property owner’s negligence. It can be difficult to prove a property owner had prior knowledge of a dangerous condition; therefore, it is important to seek the advice of a qualified personal injury attorney who understands the complexities of premises liability law.
There are three general circumstances under which property owners could be held liable for a slip and fall or other premises liability injury. The first way is to prove the property owner or someone working for the owner created the dangerous condition that caused the accident. The second way to establish liability is to prove the property owner knew about the dangerous condition, but failed to correct it out of negligence. The third way to prove liability is to show that the condition existed for such a long period of time that the property owner should have known about and corrected it before the injury occurred. Sometimes, negligence can be proven by showing the property owner violated relevant statutes including building codes.
It is important for the victim to receive prompt and appropriate medical care for his or her injuries. To help build a premises liability case, all events related to the accident should be recorded including the date, time, and names of witnesses. The property owner should be notified about the accident as soon as possible.
If you are the victim of a premises liability accident, you should consult a premises liability lawyer before discussing the incident with the property owner’s insurance company. Remember – the insurance company has their best interests in mind, not yours.